Category Archives: JiFFy Challenges

In a JiFFy: Dropping You a Line

Posted on August 9, 2012 | 7 comments

You probably thought I was never coming back! I couldn’t do that!! This summer has had a way of getting away from me, but today it’s JiFFy Girl Day, and I can’t resist the JiFFy Girls! This specific challenge post has been a long time in the making. I can’t even remember when we first discussed it, but the whole key was no stress, so… it’s all good.

In case you’ve forgotten, or in case you are a new visitor, the JiFFy Challenge is Just for Fun! Someone (in this case me!) picks an image and someone else (Michele Boyer) picks a patterned paper, and we see what everyone comes up with!

I chose Ramona Fishing from Stamping Bella for this month’s image. The precocious little girl reminds me so much of my own 10 year old, and there are plenty of times that we actually call my darling daughter, Ramona!  Michele chose this darling Hide and Seek paper from the October Afternoon Sidewalks line. It was a great match, in my book!

My Ramona is colored with Copic Markers, and then I cut a second image to use as a mask. I laid my mask over the Ramona image and airbrushed a background, grass and water with my airbrush system. I really do love the Windstorm air compressor. It’s consistent with an even pattern, easy to use, small enough to fit in my desk drawer for easy access and quiet.

It’s been so long since we JiFFy Challenged. I’m excited to see what the other girls end up with. Hope you’ll check them out:

I’m going to be stamping for a challenge today at Splitcoast! If you haven’t been by in a while, make sure you swing by our NEW home page. It’s been a LONG time in the works, and I couldn’t be more excited about our face lift!

See you soon! (And, I mean that!)

 

7 Comments

Posted in Copics, JiFFy Challenges, Stamping Bella

JiFFy is Back!

Posted on February 27, 2012 | 13 comments

The JiFFy Girls took a little break over the holidays. Always good to be back to something you love, right? Speaking of good to be back, can I just mention how much I miss my own coffee pot when I’m away from home…even for 2 days? Yes, it’s good to be back!

Just a reminder, JiFFy Girls challenge each other every month, or so...heavy emphasis on so this time…lol, and it’s just for fun! Someone picks a paper and someone else picks a stamp. This month sweet Carole was the paper picker and Miss Amy Rohl was the stamp selector. Fabulous combo, I hope you agree.

This month, Amy selected The Cat’s Pajamas’ super sweet set, Admit One and matching die, Big Ticket. Carole chose Flower Basket paper from Pebbles’ Fresh Goods line. Lovely!

My youngest niece is a Leap Day Baby, and she’s having her very FIRST birthday this week, so I thought I better pop a little something in the mail today! The ticket stamps come with sentiments, numbers to customize the date and a lot of little fun accents. I added the Sunflower Rosette die to make a little badge and a die cut 4 from MFT and a crepe paper pink tutu to make sure it’s special for her.

I can’t wait to see what the other girls created because I loved this combo! You can check them out:

13 Comments

Posted in Cat's Pajamas, JiFFy Challenges

Truly a JiFFy: Let’s Fly Away

Posted on September 9, 2011 | 14 comments

It seems like it’s been a long time since I got together with the JiFFY Girls… but seeing as it’s all just for fun, we try not to stress about a regular posting schedule. I consider this a fabulous way to take off for the weekend!

I’m thrilled with the stamp and paper selections this month. Jody Morrow got things rolling by choosing the cutest stamp set, Take Off from The Cat’s Pajamas. That was fine with me because I bought this stamp the day it was released, and it was waiting to see ink. Before Jody revealed the stamp selection, Michele Boyer selected our patterned paper for the month, Simple Pleasures from the 100 Days of Summer Collection by Simple Stories, also in my collection of schtuff but unused. I loved these selections together! More often than not, that’s how it rolls.

Even with the quick sponging and wonky stitches, I consider this a clean and simple card. It’s perfect for the therapeutic i-am-waiting-on-my-girls-at-another-after-school-activity-I-am-going-to-destress-and-color-while-i-do session. My bunny is colored with Copic, and  I only used 7 different markers on this image. If you start with very light shades of color and add layers to build richness, you can do Copic, clean and simple.  I won’t lie, this bunnies ears intimidate me a little…they are so BIG. That’s part of his charm though, and I just kept it simple.  I’m very happy with how he turned out.

The pull behind banner was cut with the First Place Ribbon die from MFT. For something seemingly simple, like the notched banner, I have used those ribbon dies over-and-over since I got them at CHA. Always even tails, every time. {love}

I’m going to check out how things look over at the other JiFFy Girls blogs this morning. Looking at their cards is really the incentive I need to get mine finished up each month. I know they have jaw-dropping ideas to share! I hope you get a chance to hop by each one:

I’m the JiFFy image picker for our next challenge. I better put my thinking cap on and get something settled. Any ideas? What would you like to see done multiple ways with a random patterned paper? Give me a suggestion!

If you’ll excuse me, I’m going to run about 6 miles. Most of the girls in my running group are training for a half-marathon, and today is our long day. *If* I make it, I’ll be back later this morning with a sweet sketch from Taylor…after that, I’m gonna fly away for the weekend…in my car. LOL I’m going all the way to my mom and dad’s house. I haven’t seen them in a several weeks, and I’m feeling like a homesick college freshman.

Thanks for stopping by!

  • Stamps: Take Off – The Cat’s Pajamas
  • Cardstock: X-Press It Blending Card, Kraft & Simple Pleasures from the 100 Days of Summer Collection by Simple Stories
  • Ink: Rich Cocoa Memento – Tsukineko and Mix’d Media Jasmine Ink – Clearsnap
  • Accs: Copic Markers (YR31, E33, E42, R05, BG11, R00 and W1), First Place Die – MFT Stamps and Blossom Nestabilities – Spellbinders

14 Comments

Posted in Cat's Pajamas, JiFFy Challenges

JiFFY: Thank You!

Posted on August 4, 2011 | 13 comments

It’s time for  JiFFy Challenge ! Once a month (or so), I get together with a few girl friends for a challenge that’s Just For Fun. One chooses a patterned paper, and independently, another chooses a stamp image. You never know what you are going to send up with!

This month, Christina Fischer chose this darling image from CC Designs. I loved coloring her…so much in fact that I colored her twice while I was watching Gone With the Wind (my favorite quote: What difference does it make who you marry so long as he’s a Southerner and thinks like you? LOL).

The first time I colored her on white paper, and I knew she would look better with the krafty paper that Amy Rohl selected (you know that krafty paper broke my heart! lol) if I colored the image on cream card stock.  I gave her little polka dot tights with a turquoise Copic MultiLiner to tie into the polka dot paper just  a bit. I love how she turned out!

I saw a few of the JiFFy girls in Chicago last week, and we were already working on our challenge card (well, most of us. LOL!) I can’t wait to see how everyone did!

You can see how all of the JiFFy Girls pulled it together by visiting:

  • Stamps: Pumpkin Emma – CC Designs & heart and sentiment from customer appreciation set from Taylored Expressions
  • Cardstock: Krafty Dots – Recollections, Perfect Panels Cream – MFT
  • Ink: Black Tuxedo Memento – Tsukineko
  • Accs: Rounded Banner Trio – Dienamics from MFT, Copic Marker (YR21, YR24, E00, E51, BG11, BG13, BG000, E31, R11, R14, , YR12, YR15, YG63, W1) Grass done with Prismacolor Pencils & Gamsol, White flowers, twine

13 Comments

Posted in Copics, JiFFy Challenges

Beep! Beep! It’s JiFFy time!

Posted on July 7, 2011 | 12 comments

***Copic Coloring Guide Giveaway post is here.***

I couldn’t be happier to have a post today that’s just for fun with my JiFFy friends! It’s that time when someone picks a stamp and someone else (in this case me!) picks a patterned paper and it all gets shuffled around the country so that six different women can give us there take on the random act of stamp-ness.

We’ve got a few new faces to the JiFFy Friends challenge this month so I’m very excited. I always love to see what these goddesses create. You know them all: Michele Boyer, sweet Carole Burrage, Cristina Fischer, Jody Morrow and Amy Rohl!

As I mentioned, I was the paper-picker this month, and I had chosen this beautiful piece called Bohemian Floral from Graphic 45 many moons ago for my next hostess month…I was thinking beautiful floral cards, sweet sentiment cards… I’ll admit I was a little set back when Carole chose super darling Spiffy Scooters from Paper Smooches. Like fried onions and chocolate…I love them both, but don’t choose to eat them together at the same time. 🙂 That feeling didn’t last long though, and I love how this turned out!

I have a Copic Coloring Guide giveaway going on thru Saturday on this post, and the question I asked was, ‘I knew I was in love with Copics when _______!‘ For me, it was when I saw the flat, smooth coloring that could be achieved with the markers. Put the shading aside, I love that rich, smooth look you can get with these markers, and it’s a great way to make use of a limited color selection.

To color large areas, you sometimes need to color the image twice over to smooth out the streaks since the first pass over your cardstock can be a little splotchy. This is because the cardstock is dry.  After the cardstock is wet from the first pass of the marker, however, the second pass will even out the splotchiness. Sometimes, like here with BG72, I don’t want super dark images that multiple layers of color would create so I color the image first with my blender pen to moisten the cardstock and then apply color with my Copic Marker. One pass with the marker is all that is required for smooth, vibrant and not too dark color. The body of the scooter and the fenders were both colored with BG72, the only difference is that the fenders were colored first with the colorless blender pen, so they aren’t as dark as the scooter body.

Tip: Work in the smallest possible sections. So in this case, I would color each different element of the scooter completely before moving on to the next (i.e. front fender, back fender, body, headlamp, etc.).

It’s just about time to hit publish, so I’m going to see what the rest of my girlfriends cooked up with this stamp and paper combo. I know I’ll be blown away…always am with this group. Hope you can check them out, too!

  • Stamps: Spiffy Scooters – Paper Smooches
  • Cardstock: kraft, orange – Prism, Bohemian Floral – Graphic 45
  • Ink: Tuxedo Black – Memento
  • Assc: Perfect Bracket Edge & Notched Tag die – My Favorite Things, Copic Markers (BG72, W3, Y32 and R14) and dotted embossing folder – Sizzix

12 Comments

Posted in Copics, JiFFy Challenges, Paper Smooches

u hold my {heart}

Posted on May 19, 2011 | 19 comments

I’m back today with a card that is Just for Fun! Every so often, I get together with my JiFFy friends, Michele, Carole, Julie and Alli (and sometimes a guest – this month, my fabulous friend, Sherrie!) for a fun little post where someone has picked a pattered paper, and someone has picked a stamp image. It all gets secretly shuffled across North America, and when the stars align, we all post a card on the same day.

I always love this challenge because sometimes the papers don’t really match the image (or so you think at first glance!), and it … well, challenges me. But, I always try to play by the rules: JiFFy paper and coordinating solids, only. It just so happens that this month, I already had my images from Michele (Stamping Bella’s Little Peep’s Heart), and then the very same day I received my paper from Alli, I received the new Brighton catalog in the mail.

Look at the cover of this catalog. Tell me that this turquoise blue hearted card wasn’t meant to be!

My little peep image was colored with Copics (BG000, BG10, E31, YR30 & YR31) and then paper pieced with the patterned paper. My card is put together with several dies from MFT (Double Scallop Border and Notched Tag Die & Stamp Set). I loved the sentiment and little bitty heart die that says, ‘u hold my {heart}’. I did cut the notch off of the top of the tag. It’s all stitched up and tied with seam ribbon that was dyed with a Copic marker (most likely BG75 – it was a gift from my dear friend, Sharon, and I’m about 95% sure of the color: BG75!)

I’m going to do a little blog hopping and see what the other girls came up. That’s always the best part of the challenge, IMO! I hope you have time to check them out:

I’m planning a follow up post to my fabulous birthday yesterday. So many sweet wishes and beautiful cards. I was overwhelmed! I’ve got a few deadlines this week, so it might be a week or so before I get back to that. It was such a special day for me, so I didn’t want to skip over and not mention it here this morning. I’m blessed beyond measure. 🙂

 

19 Comments

Posted in Copics, JiFFy Challenges, Stamping Bella

Once Junked JiFFY & I’m Feelin’ SWEET

Posted on May 2, 2011 | 12 comments

Still here, and I’ve even been crafty! I had this sparkly strawberry on my desk, leftover from my March JiFFy post. I couldn’t let it go to waste! Plus,  my friends at Unity are celebrating THREE FABULOUS years this week. It seemed like a great day to post! Happy Birthday, Unity!

This strawberry is so sparkly. It looks so sweet.

Sweet. It’s how I’ve been feeling lately, and that’s a good thing. I’ve mentioned several times that I took up running late last spring. After several declined invites to run with a great group of lean, mean and dedicated ladies here in town, I finally accepted last week, and I’ve ran with them 3 times so far. I could cry telling you how good it felt to finally run 4 miles (FOUR MILES!) without stopping to walk! Actually, I could cry from how tired my lungs felt during and after. It hasn’t been perfect any of the 3 runs, but even the first morning, I left our local Y and finished with them. ME!

I’ll be honest. They’ve been asking me to join them for months, and last week my running plans fell apart at the last minute and there they were, sweetly encouraging me again. What if I can’t keep up with them? What if I have to walk? What if they leave me eating dust? What if I hold them back? (That was actually my biggest fear! – I don’t want anyone to hold up or not get a needed workout because of me!) But, I was at a point where I needed to be pushed. I needed to go further, and I needed consistent accountability. Saying a praise today for constantly having people come into my life with the right encouragement, at the right time. I am blessed.

If you want something you’ve never had, you have to do something you’ve never done. I’ve never been more certain of these words than I am right now.

I’ve got more crafty remnants from the weekend on my desk. See you tomorrow!

  • Stamps: Sweetest Day and sentiment from a random KOM – Unity Stamp Company
  • Ink: Tuxedo Black – Memento and Fresh Snow – Papertrey Ink (to sponge edges of kraft cardstock)
  • Cardstock: Kraft, Intense Pink & Kiwi – Prism, White & Madison Plaid – Echo Park
  • Accs: dots  impression folder – Sizzix, linen thread, flower, diamond glitter, Copic Markers (R20, RV29 and YG23)

12 Comments

Posted in Copics, JiFFy Challenges, Unity Stamp Company